I honestly consume a lot of soft drinks
(diet mostly) and coffee year round EXCEPT for summer
(May to September for Greece) where because of sweating, especially during cycling, I end up consuming vast amounts of water
(around 4.5L or 18+ glasses) and
try to avoid drinking anything else.
I've been warned by my doctor to keep a check on this amount so I can avoid getting "water poisoning
*" and if I'm thirsty to drink a sports drink, preferably without sugar to raise my electrolytes.
For dieting, I still try to have a glass or two of water ten minutes before eating which DOES help me from overindulging and having seconds
(or thirds, or fourths.... 
). I also drink a glass before sleeping which keeps me feeling "full" and from nightly fridge raids.
IndianaRecRider, I'm sorry to bring this into the subject but I remember when a family member
(survivor) was diagnosed with cancer, the doctor told her to cut down on milk
(she drank a lot as well) because for adults, milk "feeds" the cancer cells we all have in us and raises the risk.
* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_intoxication